Improvement in lubricating wheels or pulleys



ROBERT v. LANEY.

Improvement 'nw Lubricating Wheel or Pulley.

Patented Marc h12,1872.

4 .i" Prion ROBERT VANGE LANEY, OF OUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN LUBRICATING WHEELS OR PULLEVS.

To all* whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT V. LANEY, of

v Cumberland, in the countv of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented an Improved Lubricating Wheel or Pulley, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdraiving and the letters of reference marked thereon making part of this specification, in lwhich.-

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the lubricating-Wheel. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is Aa vertical sectional view of the lubricating-tube, being drawn full size.

The object of my invention is to furnish a lubricating Wheel or pulley, so constructed that the reservoir shall not only be permanently attached. thereto, but made a component part thereof. This lubricating Wheel or pulley is equally applicable to all species of land conveyance, such as railroad cars, Wagons, carriages, Sto., and also to many classes of agricultural implements, such as harvesters, graindrills, seed-planters, Src., and'inost admirably adapted to all branches of machinery in which shafts With revolving Wheels or pulleys are used. The nature of my invention consists in casting or otherwise constructing an ordinary Wheel or pulley with a close chamber, its form being that of an are or segment of a circle, to serve as a reservoir for the lubricating oil or substance; and also in forming on the upper section of the nave or hub a longitudinal groove Which communicates With a central dischargepassage; and, further, in providing the illin gorice With a stationary tube that shall extend to a point immediately above or in close proximity to the upper Walls of the groove and directly over the central discharge-passage. Ex-

perience, the result of practical experiment, in connectionivith my present lubricating device, fully attests its value and demonstrates its greatest utility.

The advantages incident to this construction and combination of Wheel or pulley and lubricating-reservoir are not conlined to its cheapness, simplicity, and durability, but are also abundantly found in the accuracy and reliability of its automatic operation. Ii the reservoir is properly suppliedthat is, lled to not over one-half its capacity-the lubricating-oil is fed With exact precision at each revolution of the pulley or Wheelwhen, and only When,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,596, dated March 412, 1872.

the discharge-passage is on a direct vertical line with the centerl of the axle; and, owing to the fact that the filling-orifice and its tube are also on a direct line with the central dischargepassage, should either become choked or obstructed, and the latter is especially apt to become so7 they can readily be relieved and the obstruction removed simply by introducing a straight rod or other probe.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows:

A is the Wheel or pulley, and B the chamber which constitutes the reservoir for the oil or lubricating substance. This chamber or reservoir is in the form of an arc or segment of a circle, and may be semioircular, as shown in the drawing, or, if desired, so enlarged Aas to encircle nearly, but not entirely, the hub or nave A. This chamber is cast or otherwise constructed With the Wheel so as to become a permanent or component part thereof. ct is a central discharge-passage, through which the lubricating oil or other substance is fed to the spindle of the axle C or to the journal. a is a groove that extends partly across the hub or 11 ave A', its length being the same as the Width of the reservoir B. The form of this groove a,

as Well as its direct communication or connec-` tion with the central discharge-passagev a, is clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. At the center of the periphery or circumference Wall of the chamber is au orice, b, in which is permanently.

secured the filling-tube B. The form of this tube is fully shown in the full-size representation of the same given in Fig. 3. This tube is inserted and secured in the orifice b with its flat face resting against the face of the inner Wall of the chamberror that Wall of the chamber which, when the Wheel is attached, is nearest the shoulder of the axle. The relative position of this tube B', in connection with the central discharge-passage a and groove a', is clearly shown in Figs. land 2,`and by reference to Which it Will be seen that it is immediately over the passage a, and, consequently,

directly over the section ot the .groove a( that empties into the passage a..

From the foregoing description th e automatic operation of the device, as Well'as the principle that governs the same, Will readily be understood. The Wheel or pulley being attached to the axle or journal, as the case'may be, when the voil or other lubricating material is to be applied, the wheel is turned so that the tube shall be at an angular instead of the vertical position shown in Fig. l. The oil or other inaterial is now poured in and passes to the section of the chamber that is lowest, through the...

space left between the lower section of the tube and the groove a', not a particle of the same entering the central discharge-passage a unless improperly the chamber B is filled to an extent beyond one-half its capacity, which, however,

should under no circumstances ever be thea proper lubrication is most important. Thus at each revolution ofthe wheel the oil is accurately fed, and at no other time. Should the passage a become choked, the tube B being on a line therewith, it can readily be opened simply by passing a rod or equivalent device through the tube.V

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

The chamber B, cast or otherwise formed with the wheel or pulley A, tube B', 'central discharge-passage ce, and groove a', wh-en the same are so combined and arranged as to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. y.

ROBERT VANGE LANEY.

/'itnessesz J osnrn GONDER, R. V. SAYLEs. 

